LAST Saturday Sandford Cricket Club's First XI travelled to top-of-the-table Paignton, who prior to the match being played, were 29 points clear of Sandford in second place.

Following a tremendous effort by the Sandford boys, the deficit has now been reduced to 15 points following Sandford's amazing four-wicket win at Queen's Park.

Paignton having won the toss batted first, but their usually fluent batting line-up were never really able to get on top of the Sandford bowling. Wickets fell steadily throughout the home team's innings, with only veteran Neil Hancock 34 (four fours, two sixes) posing a decent score as they were bowled out for only 143 in 40.5 overs.

Tight bowling by the Sandford spinners restricted the home team's scoring rate, thanks to economical spells of 4-22 (10) from Praison Alias and 3-36 (9.5) from Jackson Thompson.

Sandford's reply was steady, if unspectacular. Openers 18-year-old Joe Hopkins and England Over 40s player Jackson Thompson, who during the week had scored a 100 against Wales Over 40s, put together an opening stand of 42, before Jackson departed for 30 (six fours).

Joe was then joined by Praison Alias and together they moved the score along to 81 before the second wicket fell – Praison departing for 19 (one four and a six).

Joe then became the anchor of the innings as he compiled a steady knock of 48 (five fours) from 110 balls before being the sixth man out with only six runs required to win.

In the end Sandford reached 147 for six in 39.1 overs to win comfortably by four wickets, and in doing so they clocked-up a useful 19 points on the leaders, who only managed five.

Amazingly, with the issues the team have had with injuries this season, it seems incredible that they are now Premier League contenders with only three games remaining.

Next Saturday the Firsts are at home to Hatherleigh at Creedy Park with a 12.30pm start.

Phil Matten